The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-27
The Sunday School.
LESSON FOB SEPTEMBER A, 1887.
By REV. ROBERT T. POLK.
TRUST In OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
Matthew vi. 24-34.
Matthew vi. 24-34.]
PIoUs GREED.

. PIoUs GREED.
In his application of the principles of the
Divine government (Kingdom of GoD) to
religious character and conduct. JESUS passes
from the consideration of duties to that of
objects and aims. Having shown that the
proper motive for the performance of the
duties of life was not to be seen and praised
by men who behold only the outward act,
but to do the will of COP, who knows the Sc
crets of the heart, and that the true rewards
of righteousness are inward and spiritual,
rather than outward and physical, he pro-
ceeds to show that the proper objects of chief
endeavor are those things which are unseen
and eternal, rather than the things that are
temporal and visible Corinthians ii. 4-1S),
heavenly treasures that endure, rather than
earthly treasures, that are perishable and
may be lost (19-21). The chief object OF en-
deavor will command the supreme affection
of the heart. To illustrate the results of
divided affection or ambition for outward
and inward rewards-earthly and heavenly
treasures, he describes the effects of vision
by sound eye that sees clearly and distinct
IL and one that is defective and deceptive in
its vision, seeing things double and in con-
fused and indistinct outline. Such vision he
declares to be, practically and really, blind
ness, and intimates that similar moral blind
ness is great indeed. st. Paul describes
those Having the eyes of the heart enlight-
ened" to perceive the riches of a sanity in
heritance, and others, "being darkened in
their understanding" who being spiritually
insensible, gave themselves up, among other
things, to 0reediness (Ephesians i. IL; K. IL,
19). The Pharisees, whose outward righteous
ness was not sufficient qualification for the
kingdom of heaven, and which that of the
disciples should exceed, and the hypocrites,
who paraded their acts of piety for popular
applause and reward, were examples of
double-heartedness that darkened the under
standing. They we're formally, and in that
way, exceedingly pious, and were greedy for
wealth. They are described as covetous,
who put on the garments, mask of piety az
a cloak of disguise in which to practice ex-
tortion and defraud widows of their rightful
inheritance. They are 80 characterized in
recorded condemnation of JESUS: "Woe unto
you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites for
We devour widows houses, even while for
pretense ye make long prayers" (xxiii. 14)
1.-THE passage is omitted in the Revision and
put in the Margin, not being contained in
the oldest manuscripts. The substance of it,
however, is contained in Mark xii. 40 and
Luke XXX. All. They are spoken of as ''blind
guides" Their worldly mindedness and
greed had made them double sighted, and
confused and darkened their spiritual per-
ception, and so blinded "the eye of the SOUL"
Being without clear spiritual perception their
worship was formal and heartiess and their
piety mere pretence. Having these classes
in view, doubtless, JESUS declared: "No one
can be the slave and faithfully serve two
masters; he will either love one and not the
other, or he will cling to one and slight the
other.'' " You cannot serve GoD and NAM
mon,"-riches, he said to his disciples. But
being servants of GoD, we may make riches
serve us, and humanity.
The Divine condemnation does not go out
against money, or the labor of legitimate
business that produces wealth. 1t is not
money that disquelifes for the kingdom of
heaven. but the servile love of it, which is
root of all kinds of evil, and the source of
many SORROWS Il Tim. vi. 10). 1t is covet-
business, which is idolatry, that alienates the
soul from COP and goodness and hardens the
heart towards mankind, and darkens and
confuses the spiritual perception of truth
and duty, and makes it blind to the true
riches of life, the graoes and virtues of no.
BILE Christian manhood, and to the truth that
"gcdliness with contentment is great gain"
Il Tim. vi. g.. "They that desire (are
greedy to be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdi-
ton Il Tim. vi. 81. They that trust in riches
are sure to be deceived, and will surely miss
the satisfaction and happiness which they
seek; while those who put on a cloak of relig-
ion and make a pretense of piety to promote
their greedy and covetous ambition will as
surely debase their manhood, and merit and
receive the condemnation of COP and their
fellowmen. We oannos be slaves of wealth
and fashion, and all the selfish pleasures and
ambitions which wealth fosters, and truly
serve GOD. But we may serve GoD truly
employing all the wealth we may rightfully
possess and gain in the service Of mankind
for the promotion of truth and righteousness
and their consequent happiness.
BoRRowINa TROUBLE.
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